Printing electric meter



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Patented Jan. 5, 1932 UNITED :STATES PATENT OFFICE DOUGLAS KINDER- MGILV'AINE, OF CONNELLBVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

PRINTING ELECTRIC METER Application filed December 17, 1930. Serial No. 503,032.

This invention relates to m uring devices, and more p meter for measuring electr by a consumer, and having means for making a printed record of the amount of such energy used and to be paid for over a specified period of time.

Electric energy is usually sold to consumers on the basis of a difi'erential rate or etering or measa-rticularly to a ical energy used scale or what is commonly referred to as the block step rate. That is to say, for the first unit of kilowatts consumed the user pays a certain rate, and after this period of con sumption has taken place a lower rate is put into effect, and then if desired a still lower rate may be effected.

1 Accordingly, a primary object of the invention is to provide a construction for calculating and printing the consumers bill according to a plurality of different monetary rates for the consumption of electrical energy in kilowatts-the ratechanging as additional kilowatts are used. VVhile'the invention is particularly adaptable to meters for measuring electrical energy, nevertheless, the

I principles and novel features of certain of theunits of construction are adaptable to meters for automatically calculating, recording and rendering bills or their equivalent in coded form from electric, gas and water meters, and counters of units, or blocks of units of any commodity the unit value of which decreases in monetary value with increased quantity of use.

'A further object of the invention is to provide a novel rate changing and calculating unit which will accurately and reliably function and avoid the possibility of mistakes due to persons making erroneous calculations, false meter readings, transcriptions of figures and malicious intent by unauthorized persons.

With the above and other objectsin view which will more readily appear as the m ture of the invention is better understood,

. the same consists in therovel construction,

combination and arrangement of parts here-,

inafter m claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment of ore fully described, illustrated and the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the essential elements of the invention.

Figure 1 is a diagrammaticv view il1us trating one means for obtaining an intermittent current from a source of constant current.

Figure 2 is a detail perspective view of 60 the complete unit showing its relation to a measuring element.

Figure 3 is a form of bill printed by the present invention.

Figure 4;- is a top plan View of the construc- 05 tion involved with the casing removed.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the construction shown in Fi ure 4.

Figure 6 is a side e evation of one end of the device. Y

' Figure 7 is a side elevational of the opposite end of the device shown in Figure 6, theend wallbeing partly broken away to better illustrate the printing instrumentalities.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 88 of Figure 4.

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 4.

Figure 10 is a view illustratingflthe key operated means for actuating the printing instrumentalities and resetting the members.

Figure 11 is a detail view of the key barrel and its associated arts.

Figure 12 is a etail View illustra range of modification in the ing means that may be employed.

- Similar referencecharacters designate corresponding arts throughout the several figures of the drawings. i

The present invention is a continuation in part of my former application, Serial No. 399,043, filed October 11, 1929 for an improvement in calculating and recording devices, and Figure 1 of the present case is a duplicate of Figure 1 in that a plication.

Referring to the di'awings, it will be observed from Figure 1 that the device ineludes in its organization, actuating means designated generall as A and including suitting the form ofactuat- 35 t an electric meter. In this figure, the usual meter wheel is designated as B the same being geared or otherwise operatively connected with a wheel or pinion B which may operate a cam or the like B which in turn opens and.closes the contact arms B and B included in the electrical circuit which also has the electro-magnet B included therein. It is to be understood, however, that the means shown in Figure 1 is merely illustrative of one form of apparatus that may be employed for constituting a prime mover for the actuating means A.

Referring again to the actuating means A it is pointed out that the same is intended to operate a main shaft designated generally as C which in turn operates a total units printing counter D, a monthly or other pay period units counter E, and also operates the variable rate calculating printing unit F through the medium of the shaft F and the link F This variable rate calculating unit is connected with a cash or charge printing unit which prints the net charge on the bill form H to correspond with the number of units of the commodity consumed or used within the specified pay period.

Suitable printing means designated generally as P (Figure 10) is provided for taking a record from the counters or dials of the units D, 'E and G, the said printing means being actuated by the key K, Figure 11. This key is also uti ized for operating the resetting means designated generally as R and which is intended to reset the monthly or other period units counter E, the variable rate calculating unit F, and the cash or charge printing unit G. It will, therefore, be apparent that after all of the automatic functions ofthe present recording device have been performed, an attendant may insert the key K at the proper place and likewise insert the bill form H in the device to take a printed record of the condition of'the device and then reset the mechanism for further use.

One of the distinctive features of .the invention resides in the novel construction, ar-

rangement and operation of the variable rate I calculating unit F and this will be described more in detail later. However, taking up the various units in sequence, the actuating means A will first be described.

Actuatz'ng means The object of the actuating means A is, as previously indicated, to operate the main shaftC or its equivalent periodically one full revolution for each half-revolution of the motion imparting gear of the actuating means. Some of the objects in having the shaft C operate periodically in full revolutions is to cause the movements of the type wheels of the total units counter D to always assume proper alinement, and also to impart a similar movement to the type wheels of the unit E while at the same time causing the link F to have a uniform stroke at each operation. It is essential to provide a uniform stroke of movement for the link F since, as will hereinafter more fully appear, this link operates in conjunction with a predetermined number of teethon a ratchet wheel to operate the charge printing unit G a maximum: rate, and then when certain of these predetermined number of teeth are rendered inoperative for the same stroke or movement of the link F, the rate of charge will be decreased in accordance with the object of the invention heretofore outlined.

The actuating means A, therefore, may include various elements for carrying into effeet the foregoing objects, and by way of describing the form of actuating means actually embodied in a complete device, reference will first be made to the actuating means shown perhaps more clearly in Figures 4, 5, 7 and 8, and then reference will be later made to the equivalent actuating means A shown in Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 7, it will be observed steadily under the influence of the actuating pawl B The shaft 7 (Figure 5) has loosely mounted thereon a gear 10 provided with-a hub having a radially disposed arm 11 or its equivalent carrying an offset lug 12, the said gear 10 being connected with the shaft 7 by a coil spring 13. As will be seen from Figures 5 and 8 for example, a detent 1%; having a slot a: is slidably mounted over the shaft 7 and is sultably guided at its upper end as indicated at as so that'it will move up or down when one of the other of the inclines 14 or 14 is engaged by the lug 9 of the positively driven disk 8. The side of the slidable detent 14 opposite that having the inclined faces 14 and 14 is provided with the reversely related holding the lug 12 stop shoulders 14 and 14 for engaging and except when the detent is shifted to release the lug as will now be explained.

Normally, the lug 12 is engaged behind 1 either the shoulders 14 or 14 due to the shaft 7 having placed spring 13 under tension, it of course bemg remembered that the spring 13 is connected with shaft 7 and with gear 10, the

As shaft 7 gear to gear being 2 to 1 so that for each half-revolution of the gear 10, the gear 15 and main shaft C make a full revolution. The diagram, Figure 1, shows an equivalent construction wherein the disk 8* and the attached gear are loosely mounted on shaft 7 9 but are connected by the spring 13. As the disk and combined gear 8 are turned, the

spring 13*" is wound up, and since shaft 7 a is held or detained by the detent 14, the windlng upof the spring 13 will continue until the detent 14 releases the shaft 7 a which carries therewith the disk 11 having the pin 12* for engaging with the detent. 14. The disk 11 is fast on the shaft 7 f, and together with the lug 12 is the full equivalent of the arm 11 and lug 12 in Figures 5 and 8, but since the combined gear and disk 8 is loose on shaft 7, it will be apparent that the gear 10 and disk 11 must be fast on the shaft 7 so that when the lug 9 shifts the detent 14, the lug 12 will be moved off of the shoulder 14 to permit parts 7 11- 10 to move a halfrevolution, and through the change speed gearing 3 move the gear 15 a full revolution. In this way the main shaft 16. (C) is given a full turn for each intermittent half turn of the actuating gear.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the main shaft C actuates the important elements of the present combination, namely the counters D, E, and G and the variable rate calculating unit F, and further reference will now be made to the various units referred to.

Total units counter v istered by this counter is printed on the bill form H as will be observed from Figure 3 and by keeping the periodic bills, the consumer can always check up on the accuracy of the registration of the meter by subtracting the reading of a subsequent period from the total reading ofa former pay period.

Pay period units counter The shaft 16 also drives the type wheels of the counter E which represents the units of the commodity used within'a certain period. That is to say, the shaft 16 carries the gear 18 which registers only the. units of the commodity consumed in the period between meter readings. If an electric meter is the device in which the present invention is embodied, the type wheels of the units E will register the kilowatts used and which must be paid for in accordance with the predetermined rate determined by the device F and registered as cash on the type wheels of the unit G. Since the type wheels of the unit E register the units of the commodities used between meter readings, the said type wheels of this unit must be" reset after each meter reading. The manner in which they are reset will be fully explained under the descrlptlon of the resetting mechanism. I

Variable rate calculating unit One of the important functions of the main shaft 16 (C) is to drive the differential rate calculatingunit F and to that end the said shaft is provided with a bevel gear 19 meshing with the bevel gear 20 on a worm shaft 21, the latter shaft being disposed at right angles to the main shaft and having thereon a worm 22. This worm drives a gear 23 carried by a shiftable calculating shaft 24, the

same being movable axially for resetting purposes as will presently be seen, but held in its normal position by the leaf spring 25 which engages the grooved collar 26. The said shaft 24 carried adjacent the gear 23, a heart-shaped resetting cam 27 and also carries at its end opposite the collar 26 a dif- I ferential rat e calculating cam 28.

The cam 28 is provided, in the instance shown, with two peripheral shoulders 30 and 31 and a normal or initial dwell 32, all of which cooperate with the offset part 33, of a control lever L, having thereon shoulders 34, 35 and 36, to permit of the shifting of the pin 37 of a spring tensioned rate lever 38 restmg on each of said shoulders successively.

. That is to say, the pin 37 of lever 38 is normally poised on the end shoulder 3-4 to permit of calculations to be made at the initial rate,

the dwell 32 of the cam 28 moving in a direction to bring the shoulder 30 into registry with the offset 33 of'the lever L. As previously stated, the rate lever 38 is spring ten sioned, the spring 38 efi'ecting that result,

and when the shoulder 30 of cam 28 registers the ratchet, thus turning with the offset 33, the pin 37 slides along the smooth under surface of lever L until it strikes the second shoulder 35 which permits the rate lever 38 to assume its secondary position to record a second period of charge at a decreased rate. Similarly, when the shoulder 31 registers with oflset 33, pin 37 moves to shoulder 36 and a subsequent or third rate is put into effect. Clearly other shoulders could be provided on the lever L to further change the position of the rate controlling lever 38 to obtain further decreased rates of charge.

The rate lever 38 governs the amount of money recorded on the charge printing unit G, by changing the position of a pawl guard which limits the number of teeth adapted to be engaged by an actuating pawl, as the rate of charge decreases. That is to say, the actuating pawl, as will presently appear has a uniform movement or stroke and normally engages a predetermined number of teeth whereby the type dials of the charge printing unit are moved a maximum distance. As the rate decreases, the pawl guard masks or prevents certain of the predetermined number of teeth from being engaged by the pawl, thus causing the printing type wheel to move a lesser distance and thus record a decreased rate. For example, during the initial charge period, the pawl may engage twelve teeth of the cash drums a specified predetermined distance for the full or first rate. Subsequently the pawl may only engage nine teeth and then later only six teeth to register less cash for the reduced rates.

The mechanism by which the control lever L carries the foregoing into effect may be described as follows The lever 38 is connected by a link 39 with a gplard plate 40 pivoted as at 41, concentric wit with a pinion 43. Check pawls '42 and 43 are provided for gears 42 and 43. The pinion 43 is carried by a shaft 44 having thereon a gear 45 which operates the cash unit G. The gear ratio between gear 45 and the gear of the type wheels of unit G is such as to register one unit on the cash dials for each tooth advanced on the ratchet 42 by the pawl 46. Since each revolution of the main shaft 16 (C) represents a commodity unit and each tooth on wheel or gear 42 is a monetary unit. the value of the commodity units in monetary units will be transmitted by shaft 44, and the product shown on the type dials of the unit G. Repeated products by additional rotations of the shaft 16 are, therefore, automatically added on the type dials ofunit G. When theposition of the guard cam or plate 40 is shifted, the number-of teeth on gear 42 engaged by pawl 46 is altered, and accordingly the value of commodity units as rea ratchet gear 42 which in turn meshes corded is altered, the value decreasing as previously explained.

The gear 42 is, the foregoing, operated at intervals, or in increments, by the pawl 46 which is pivotally mounted on a bracket or support 47. This support 47 is rotatable about the axis 41 and is operatively connected by the link F to the crank 48 carried by the main shaft 16. Thus, the main shaft directly operates the money counter G, the pawl 46 making a uniform stroke for each complete turn or rotation of the shaft 16. After the dials of units E and G have operated over a certain length of time, the next step is to take therefrom a printed record.

The printed form designated generally as H may be prepared in duplicate by using suitable prepared forms, bill is shown in Figure 3. Reference will now be made to the manner in which the form H is printed.

Assuming that it is desired to take a reading or record from the various type counter units D, E and G, the bill form H, or the like, is inserted in the guide 50 (Figures 6 and 10) and then the key K is inserted in the barrel 51 of the lock andthe same is moved downwardly to engage the levery-52 which is pivoted as at 53 and tensioned by the spring 54.

The free end ofthe lever 52 has pivotally connected therewith a member 55 whose lower end 56 is held in contact with lever 57 by a spring 58, and has a shoulder 55 which normally engages the lever 57. When the lever 52 moves downwardly the member 55 also moves down and shoulder 55 compels lever 57 to rock on its pivot 58 until the bevelled end 56 strikes pin 55". The lever 57 is normally held against pin 57 by spring 59 so that when shoulder 55 lets go of lever 57 the end 60 thereof, which is pivotally connected to the vertical rod is given a sharp downward snap. Thiscauses the platens 71 to be thrust against the type wheels of the as will be apparent from.

and one form of counters, and-also thrust against the fixed type block J which may bear the name and address of the householder or similar data. The plates 71 are carried by the ends of the leaf springs 71 which are suspended from the lever arms 71'.

When the key K is turned back, the lever 52 goes back a ainst the stop pin 52, and the printing is finished so that the bill form H can be withdrawn from the guide slot 50.

The key K may then be turned in the other or opposite direction to reset the type wheel counters E and G, and also reset the difierential rate calculating device F to again record the initial or maximum rate and thereafter record further reduced rates.

' the other end of the turned in the direction of the arrow,

shaft and gear 102 turn,

indicated, the offset portion of the barrel strikes the lever 72 which is normally held against the pin 7 2 by spring 54, and lifts the same thus also lifting the link 73 and turning crank 74 upwardly. This crank 74 is carried by a resetting shaft 75 having thereon a cam 76 (Figure 7). When the cam 76 is it causes, through interlocking cams 77 and 78, the upper and lower groups of resetting arms 7 9 and 80 respectively to cooperate with the lugs 2 on the resetting wheels 81 and 82 to move said type wheels back to zero.

In order to permit the resetting wheels to bring the type disks of the units E and G back to the proper point, the transfer pinions 83 and 84 must be elevated simultaneousl with the movement of the resetting arms, an to that end the shaft 75 carries therewith a cam 85 which operates lever 86. This lever 86 is fast on shaft 87 and has lever arms 88 and 89 which left the pinions'83 and the gear 45. The said shaft 87 also has thereon the rearwardly extending arm 90 which is pivotally connected. with link 91, and this link in turn operates the lever 92 which is pivoted coaxially with the resetting wheels 82 and controls the transfer pinions 84.

The calculating unit F is reset bya cam 93 also on shaft 75, the said cam operating a lever 94 which is pivoted at 95 (Figure 8) and has its lower end 96 arranged to engage the leaf spring 25. This spring, it will be remembered normally holds the calculating shaft 24in operative positionL When the lever 94 presses the spring 25 and shaft 24 lnwardly it disengages the gear 23 from the worm 22 and also moves calculating cam 28 clear of the lever L. Thus, the shaft 24 and cam 28 are free to go back to their normal position as determined by the valley of the heart say, when the shaft 24 cam 27. That is to is free for resetting, the lower end 97 of lever 98 is pressed against the periphery of the cam 27 thereby causing the same to rotate until the end 97 rests in the valley of the heart. To insure the proper pressure on the lever 98 to actuate the heart-shaped cam, the end of the lever which is pivoted on the shaft 99 is engaged by one end of a coil spring 100 while spring is engaged by a gear 101. This latter gear is also loosely mounted on the shaft 99 and is operated or actuated-by gear 102 on the shaft 75. As the spring 100 is put under tension, and such tension is communicated to the lever arm 98 whereby the shaft 24 is properly reset. Also in its movement, lever 98 contacts with lever 103 which is affixed to shaftv 99 by which lever 38 is returned to its initial position.

The meter attendant may then turn the key back to normal position and permit arms 72 (Figure 10) to again rest on the stop lock 72. The meter is then ready for the next registration period. e V

Figure 12 of the drawings illustrates a, modified form of actuator A which'illus trates the range of application of the inven tion to other uses. For example, the ratchet 1 may .be operated by a spring tensioned pawl B which is operated by a flexible operatingconnectionB associated with a railway rail B. As the wheels of a train pass over the free end of the will be actuated and if the ratchet is associated with a device of the type shown at F and G in Figure 1, together with the intervening operating instrumentalities, may be obtained in a manner. which will be readily apparent.

Without further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will of course be understood that 'changesin the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim cable B the ratchet 1 suitable records ing in combination, a type wheel counter device, actuatingmeans, and means operated by said actuating means for modifying the operation of said type wheel counter device in accordance with predetermined rates.

2. A variable rate recording meter including in combination a charge printing unit including a plurality of type wheels, actuating means, pawl and ratchet means controlled by said actuating means for operating said charge printing unit, and means for modifying the operation of said pawl and ratchet means for controlling the charge printing unit in accordance with predetermined rates.

3. A varlable rate recording meter ncludmg 1n combination a said charge printing charge printing unit, a ratchet device operatively connected with unit, a pawl for said,

ratchet having a uniform stroke, and means for automatically tain of the teeth of the ratchet normally engaged by the pawl to modify the operation of rendering inoperative certhe charge printing unit in accordance with preselected rates.

4. A variable rate recording meter including in combination, a charge printing unit, a ratchet operatively connected with said charge printing unit, a pawl having a uniform operating stroke and normally engaging a preselected number of teeth in the ratchet, and means for automatically shielding a selected number of said teeth from engagement by the pawl during its stroke to modify the operation of the ratchet and the charge printing unit in accordance with predetermined decreasing rates.

5. A variable rate recording meter includ- "a pawl operating ing in combination, a charge printing unit, a ratchet operatively connected with said unit, in conjunction with said means for imparting a uniform stroke to said pawl whereby the same will be initially engaged a predetermined number of teeth on the ratchet to operate the charge printing unit in accordance with a predetermined initial rate, and means for automatically rendering said pawl inoperative with respect to a certain predetermined movement of said ratchet teeth to modify the operation of the charge printing unit in accordance with a predetermined decreased rate of charge.

6. A variable rate recording meter including in combination, a charge printing device, a ratchet operatively connected with said charge printing device, actuating means, a pawl adapted to engage with a predetermined number of teeth on said ratchet, means for operating said pawl from said actuating means, and an automatic rate changin device for modifying the operation 0 the charge printing unit, said rate changing device including a uard plate for rendering certain of the teet of the ratchet within the stroke of the pawl inoperative during a portion of the stroke of the pawl after a predetermined period.

7. A variable-rate recording meter including in combination, a charge printing device, a ratchet operatively connected with said charge printing device, actuating means, a pawl adapted to engage with a predetermined number of teeth on said ratchet, means for operatively connecting said pawl with the actuating means, and an automatic rate changing device for modifying the operation of the charge printing unit, said rate changing device including a guard plate for rendering certain teeth of the ratchet within the stroke of the pawl inoperative, and means connected with said actuating means for automatically changing the pos'tion of the guard plate at spaced intervals to modify the operation of the charge printing device.

8. A variable rate recording meter mcluding in combination, a charge printing device, a ratchet operatively connected with the charge printing device, a pawl for said ratchet, actuating means,'an operative connection between said actuating means and said pawl, a member for modifying the operaactuating means and the charge printing device for modifying the operation of the latter in accordance with preselected rates, said means including a pawl and ratchet device, means for controlling the movement imparted to the ratchet by the pawl in said pawl and ratchet device, a rate controlling lever operatively connected with said last named means, a lever having a plurality of shoulders for governing the position of the rate controlling lever, and means operatively connected with said actuating means for controlling the position of the lever having the shoulders.

10. A variable rate calculating device including recording dials, a ratchet operatively connected with said dials, actuating means, a pawl operatively connected with said actuating means, a guard shiftable with respect to the teeth of the ratchet adapted to be engaged by the pawl, a rate controlling lever operatively connected with said guard, a lever having a plurality of rate controlling positions operatively connected with the lever, acam for controlling the position of said lever, and means operatively connecting said cam with the actuating means. i

11. A variable rate calculating device including a recording unit, a ratchet operatively connected with said recording unit,'a main shaft, a pawl adapted to engage wlth said ratchet, anoperative connection between said main shaft and the pawl, a guard for makin preselected groups of ratchet teeth traverse by said pawl, and means operatively connected with said main shaft for automatically shifting said guard.

In testimony whereof he hereunto afiixes his signature.

DOUGLAS KINDER McILVAINE.

tive engagement between the pawl and the 4 ratchet, a rate controllin connected with said mem er, and means operativel connected with said actuating means for shi ing the position of trolling lever to control the o erative engagement between said pawl an said ratchet to modify the operation of the charge printingdevice.

9. A variable rate recording meter including a charge printing device, actuating means, and means interposed between said said rate conlever operatively 

